Fuel Cell Stack Component Flattening Using Spreading Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of manufacturing fuel cell stacks cost-effectively and ensuring the flat alignment of components such as bipolar plates and membrane electrode assemblies for high-power applications, particularly in vehicles and stationary systems, is unresolved.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for handling planar stack components using a spreading device with movable spreading elements that align and tension the components in a plane, followed by suction to maintain flatness, ensuring precise assembly into the fuel cell stack.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional handling methods are used for stack components, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but flat alignment and positional accuracy of components deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The spreading device performs preliminary flattening and alignment of stack components before they are assembled into the fuel cell stack. By pre-tensioning the bipolar plates and membrane electrode assemblies using spreading elements that engage with openings in the components, the device ensures flat alignment is achieved prior to final assembly, preventing misalignment issues during stacking.
Solution Approach 2:
The spreading device acts as an intermediary tool between the stack components and the assembly process. It uses spreading elements that temporarily engage with openings in the bipolar plates and membrane electrode assemblies to apply controlled tension and achieve flat alignment, then releases the components for final assembly without requiring permanent modifications.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional assembly methods are used, then assembly speed is maintained, but positional accuracy and parallelism of adjacent components deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The spreading device performs preliminary flattening and alignment of stack components before they are assembled into the fuel cell stack. By pre-tensioning the bipolar plates and membrane electrode assemblies using spreading elements that engage with openings in the components, the device ensures flat alignment is achieved prior to final assembly, preventing misalignment issues during stacking.
3Reliability
If stack components are handled without spreading, then handling simplicity is maintained, but flatness and quality of fuel cell stack deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The spreading device performs preliminary flattening and alignment of stack components before they are assembled into the fuel cell stack. By pre-tensioning the bipolar plates and membrane electrode assemblies using spreading elements that engage with openings in the components, the device ensures flat alignment is achieved prior to final assembly, preventing misalignment issues during stacking.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for handling a planar stack component (2) of a fuel cell stack prior to assembly into the fuel cell stack, comprising the steps of: placing the planar stack component (2) on a support, wherein the stack component (2) has a plurality of openings (20) at an edge (21) of the stack component (2); activating a spreading device (3), wherein several spreading elements (30) of the spreading device (3) are positioned such that at least one spreading element (30) is arranged in several openings (20) of the stack component (2); and moving the spreading elements (30) in the openings (20) of the stack component (2) such that the stack component (2) is tensioned so that the stack component (2) is aligned in a plane.